Chapter 10

They sat in the graveyard for hours, caught in a hurricane of emotions. Curiosity raging through her, Bella read the gravestone over Paul's shoulder, it read Daisy and Katie Lahote, beloved mother and cherished daughter. They died on the 19th October, three years ago. Bella realised this was a little over three weeks away, her tummy was twisting in grief for Paul. She couldn't imagine the pain of losing her family like that. It helped put her sadness over the Cullens into perspective.

Paul was oblivious to Bella's observation of the grave because he was too wrapped up in self-loathing and disgust. His father's hatred of him was obvious on the gravestone, there was no mention of Paul or his connection to his mother or sister.

The fresh assault of his memories forced him to believe that he really had sent his mother and sister to their deaths and that he was so selfish in his grief he had brought pain to his precious, delicate imprint. He was the worst kind of asshole. He didn't deserve this beautiful girl who broke tribal rules to enter a sacred burial site just to comfort him. However, he was far too selfish to let her go. He gripped her tightly, needing the comfort of her presence. He could be noble another day.

As night fell, Paul felt the dropping temperature begin to chill Bella. He knew it was time to end their precious peace. He stood cradling Bella. He was grateful that she seemed to refuse to let him go. He felt like she was gripping him hard enough to squeeze his cracked edges back together. As they reached her truck, Paul wordlessly slid Bella into the passenger seat and whipped around to the driver's side.

Bella blinked, the grace and speed that he moved at was almost vampiric, but the heat radiating from him was the opposite. He took the driver's seat and Bella dove straight into his side, she didn't like the emptiness in his expression. It scared her, naively she thought she could hug it away. Paul allowed her to cling to his side, driving carefully, back to Forks. The disgust and hatred he felt was overpowering, especially with the sweet girl beside him who was determined to help him, any way that she could.

Once the truck pulled up outside her house, Paul wordlessly wrenched himself from Bella and strode off into the woods leaving her feeling confused and cold. She stared after him for a few minutes before getting out of the truck. Bella trudged into the house to an annoyed Charlie.

"Where have you been?" He didn't raise his voice, but Bella flinched as if he had.

"La Push." She murmured guiltily. Charlie glared at her expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

"Do you remember Paul?" Bella ventured, her dad nodded, his expression changing, softening.

"He was in Forks when he saw me leaving school, he thought I looked too sick to drive so he offered to drive me home, but he had to leave suddenly, and he um… he left his cell here so I went down to La Push to find him."

"Did you find him?"

"Yes," Bella sighed, "He's having a tough time right now, something to do with his mom. I didn't want to leave him alone until he felt better."

Charlie nodded, he understood instantly, he had to read the incident report on the accident. It was a senseless tragedy. Grudgingly Charlie smiled at Bella.

"You're a kind kid, Bells. I knew you'd been home by the mug on the table, it's the only time you'll get away with leaving dirty dishes."

She laughed weakly, "Sorry dad, I didn't mean to worry you."

"Just leave a note next time." He smiled, "Now get to bed, you look beat."

Bella nodded, making her way up the stairs.

"Oh, and Bella, we will discuss that fight tomorrow."

She paused before saluting her father and escaping to her room. Bella absently threw on pyjamas and fell into her bed, dreaming of Paul and the way he held her in the cemetery.

Two weeks later Bella was back in school and frustrated. It felt like it had been longer since she and Paul shared that profound intimacy in the cemetery but she hadn't seen him since. Her time in the cold with him hit her chest hard and she needed a few days extra days off school.

Hilariously, Charlie was uncomfortable in the role of nurse. He made sure that there was a decent supply of honey for her tea and he picked up her prescription from the pharmacy. However, once those jobs were done he was a little clueless with what to do next. Bella was grateful for these gestures in any case. When she was in Phoenix, her mother took off to some meditation weekend whenever Bella got sick.

They discussed the situation with Lauren but overall, he was proud of the way Bella handled herself. The only advice he had for her was to always let the other guy throw the first punch.

Bella was currently in her last class of the day, cured of the chest infection but she couldn't savour the joy from that because Lauren had spent the entire day glaring at Bella and looking for excuses to bump into her. She could already feel bruises forming from gym class, Bella was certain that an errant basketball from Lauren was causing a black eye to blossom. Not that Bella could prove it was her.

It was a small consolation but their friends had sided with Bella, she tried to convince them it wasn't necessary but they all insisted they were tired of Lauren's shit. Undoubtedly, Lauren's exile to the now empty Cullen table in the cafeteria would not make her any warmer towards Bella.

She drummed her fingers anxiously on the desk, it was impossible focus on the conjugations of ser and estar in Spanish class, and it wasn't even to do with Lauren's renewed campaign against her. She missed Paul, every day after school she was going to La Push and looking for him.

From the few interactions she had with him, Bella guessed that he was most comfortable in the woods. She would drive down and follow the Strawberry falls trailhead to third beach and back again before going home to Charlie.

The same instinct that led her to Paul in the graveyard, told her that he was never that far away from her and often on the trail she felt eyes on her, tracking her every move. Bella realised that before, he was giving her space until she was ready, now it was her turn to show Paul that same courtesy. It didn't stop her trying to find him.

While the clock ticked slowly to the end of class, Bella thought about her feelings for Paul. Seeing him in the cemetery left her with a bone deep protectiveness over this virtual stranger, then there was the strange instinct that drove her to seek him out. She allowed herself to think of the Cullens, their abandonment still aching like a bruise, but the temptation to hide from the rest of the world was diminishing, she believed that was due to her curiosity surrounding Paul.

She knew he was more than human, he knew about the Cullens and there was a deep connection between the two of them. Inspiration hit her like a bolt of lightning, she still had the book of Quileute Legends. Bella would forgo her usual trip to La Push that night and seek answers in the legends. They helped her figure out the cold ones, surely, they would have answers about Paul. Finally, she had a plan. It allowed her to focus on the last ten minutes of Spanish.

Mercifully she heard the bell ring and Bella leapt out her seat, running straight to the door. She could taste the answers already.

When Bella arrived home, she saw that Charlie's cruiser was already in the drive, it was unusual that he was home before her. When he heard the truck, Charlie stepped out of the house with a tired smile.

"Hey dad, what's wrong?" Bella asked stepping out of the truck.

"Billy called. Jake's in a bad way, needing a friend, do you fancy a trip to La Push?"

"Sure, dad. Who's driving?"

Charlie had already unlocked the cruiser, gesturing for Bella to take a seat. She slid into the car when Charlie did a double take.

"Oh my god, what happened to your face?"

"Just basketball in gym class."

Charlie scowled at Bella, "Was it her?"

Bella shrugged, "I don't know, I think it was just some guys messing around."

Charlie grunted, pacified for the moment. Bella looked out the window as they drove to La Push, watching the trees rush past, she couldn't be sure but Bella thought that she saw a flash of grey in the shrubs.

They drove in silence to the familiar red building, normally a smiling Jacob would bound out to greet them, but he didn't appear. Bella and Charlie shared a concerned look. They walked towards the house slowly, with some trepidation.

Charlie knocked on the door calling Billy's name.

"Just come in, old man!" Billy's voice passed through the wood. Charlie rolled his eyes, opening the door and he motioned for Bella to go inside first. Bella inhaled happily, the warmth and smells in the Black's house were as familiar to her as her own home. She looked up to Billy sitting in his wheelchair.

"Bella! It's great to see you, how are you?" Billy's eyes twinkled as he warmly greeted her. Bella found herself grinning back at the man.

"I'm good thanks, Billy. How are you? And Jacob?"

"I'm fine but my boy is down in the dumps, something to do with friend troubles. He's in his room if you wanted to say hi."

"I will do, Billy, thanks."

Leaving her dad to catch up with Billy, Bella stepped out of the living room and made her way to Jake's bedroom. She knocked on the door calling out his name. Bella thought she heard a muffled response but wasn't sure. She decided to go in anyway.

Jacob was lying on the bed, his face distorted in an uncharacteristic frown. He glanced to Bella and looked away again, quickly. Bella felt her tummy churn anxiously. It felt so wrong to see someone who is normally as bright as sunshine looking so miserable.

"Hey, how's it going?" Bella's question was tentative. Jacob closed his eyes and let out a harsh breath before answering.

"Just fine and dandy."

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"How's the rabbit?"

"Fine."

Bella was deeply concerned for her friend, this wasn't like him at all. His answers were short and his voice was emotionless. It was clear he wanted to reject her efforts at starting a conversation. Despite this, Bella was undeterred.

"Well, why don't you show me what you've done?"

He looked at her again, with mournful eyes. "What's the point?"

"So that I can maybe steal it and go on a joy ride. You know it'll be faster than that red beast I have."

Jacob was silent for a moment. He looked at Bella's mischievous expression and laughed reluctantly, rising from his bed.

"If I have to show you then I'll need to change the locks."

"Hey, who's the big city kid here? I could pick any lock in under 10 seconds."

Jacob raised his eyebrow, "Care to place a wager on that Bella?"

Bella studied him carefully, delighted that he was slowly acting more like Jacob but she didn't want to end up doing something potentially illegal if she lost the bet.

"What are the stakes?" She eventually asked.

"If I win, you help me on this little project of mine. If you lose you help me." Jacob's tone was hopeful.

"Ha. Ha. Nice try, how about if I win, you tell me about the project and then I'll help?"

"Deal," he grinned, sticking his hand out. Bella shook it forcefully, noting with a surprised jolt that he was almost as warm as Paul was.

"Holy shit, Bella, who gave you that shiner?" He squinted in her face. Internally, Bella sighed. It must look bad if Jake was commenting on it.

"Just some idiot in gym class." She deflected.

They made their way to Jacob's garage quietly. Jacob's humour was fading as quickly as it had appeared. Bella watched his shoulders hunch and worried for his well-being.

"Jacob, what's wrong?"

He snorted, waving her off as he came to stand by the doors to the garage.

"Seriously, I'm worried. Talk to me?" Bella persisted, standing in front of him. She was sure he had gotten taller, she had to crane her neck to look at him. He looked back at her, his lips falling into an uncertain frown.

"It'll sound stupid to you."

Bella very nearly rolled her eyes at him. "I don't care. Come on, tell me."

"Quil and Embry ditched me." Jake's voice came out all in a dejected jumble.

"What do you mean?" Bella vaguely remembered them from the Beach, they were a tight group of friends, almost as close as a family.

"The three of us were inseparable, but they got some kinda flu and were absent from school for a week and now they don't look at me or talk to me. They only hang about with Sam Uley and his gang of disciples." Jacob's sadness morphed into anger. His arms began to shake.

"Who?"

"Sam, Paul and Jared. La Push's hall monitors on steroids. I guess Quil and Embry are now too."

Bella felt a jolt at Pauls name, she buried it and patted Jacob's trembling arm.

"Did they give you any explanation?" She asked hesitantly.

"No and I don't get it. If they were mad at me, they'd just say, y'know?"

Bella nodded. "It sounds like they're acting like bitchy girls," she began. Jacob snorted.

"It's true, this is a popular female war tactic. Once in Phoenix, my friend stopped talking to me because she was having a bad period. She was releasing her frustration by tormenting me."

"What the hell?!" Jake looked appalled.

"Maybe Quil and Embry are on their man periods." She winked.

"Maybe… Now about this bet, here's the padlock, do your worst." He gestured to the lock on his garage doors, signalling the end of the Quil and Embry quandary. Bella grinned as she pulled a bobby pin from her hair and got to work.

In the end the bobby pin broke inside the lock and Jacob had to get pliers from Charlie's toolkit in the cruiser. Their dads seemed overjoyed at the change in Jacob's mood, even if it was a result of Bella's vandalism. Bella's face was crimson and mortified, Jake was red faced with tears of laughter streaming down his face. Watching Jacob's eyes get brighter soothed her aching chest, the hole left by the Cullen family was shrinking. She now had a purpose, to help Jake and eventually Paul too.

Bella would have to balance her time a bit better if she wanted to help both of them. Jacob needed a friend now, and it sounded like Paul had a whole crew to keep him company.

A/N

Hello!

So, sadly, very little Paul in this chapter. He's in a very dark place at the moment and hiding from Bella. Bella doesn't know enough about him to track him down. She's tried, remembering his earlier promise that he would find her in La Push when she came down but Paul is too busy punishing himself.

Poor Jacob needs a wee friend, he's been left totally alone by Quil and Embry. I worry for them for when Bella hunts them down. She won't be happy!

The whole female war tactic thing has come from a real experience I had when I was still in high school.

Hope you all enjoy this update :)